Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 9:05 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 5:48 p.m.

Etowah, DeKalb, Marshall and some other counties have been approved for disaster assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration following the March 18 storms. The disaster assistance is in the form of low-interest loans, Gov. Robert Bentley said in a news release.

“We really appreciate all the hard work that has been done to bring this assistance to our citizens,” said Denise Cooey, deputy director at the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency. “It can possibly help them recover more easily from these storms.”

“Cleanup continues in several communities, and this assistance from the SBA will go a long way in helping our communities recover,” Bentley said. “There is help available for homeowners, businesses and nonprofit organizations that suffered damage from the storms. From the time the storms rolled through, to seeking today's disaster declaration from the SBA, we have been working with affected communities and connecting them with any resource we can.”

Etowah and DeKalb are the two primary counties listed in the SBA disaster declaration that was approved Thursday afternoon. The declaration also covers contiguous counties to those, including Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Jackson, Marshall and St. Clair. In Georgia, the contiguous counties are Chattooga, Dade and Walker.

The Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be open in Etowah County from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 at The Chamber of Gadsden/Etowah County, 1 Commerce Square, which is at the intersection of First and Walnut Streets.

The disaster center in DeKalb County will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 at the Kilpatrick Volunteer Fire Department, 101 County Road 370, Crossville.

Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations that qualify for assistance will have the following options from the SBA:

Home Disaster Loans

• Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars, appliances, etc., damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition.

Business Physical Disaster Loans

• Loans of up to $2 million are available to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment.

Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, nonprofit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., also are eligible.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

• If a small business or private, nonprofit organization has suffered economic injury, regardless of physical damage, and is located in an SBA-declared disaster area, it may be eligible for financial assistance of up to $2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Those interested in applying for SBA low-interest rate loans can receive more information by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (or 800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing). Additional information, including SBA disaster loan fact sheets, can be found on the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov.

Serve Alabama, the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Volunteer Service, continues to encourage storm survivors in need of assistance to call 211 (or 888-421-1266). Operators can give callers more information on recovery resources available in various communities.

<p>SBA disaster assistance approved for Etowah, DeKalb and surrounding counties</p><p>BY LISA ROGERS</p><p>Times Staff Writer</p><p>Etowah, DeKalb, Marshall and some other counties have been approved for disaster assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration following the March 18 storms. The disaster assistance is in the form of low-interest loans, Gov. Robert Bentley said in a news release.</p><p>“We really appreciate all the hard work that has been done to bring this assistance to our citizens,” said Denise Cooey, deputy director at the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency. “It can possibly help them recover more easily from these storms.”</p><p>“Cleanup continues in several communities, and this assistance from the SBA will go a long way in helping our communities recover,” Bentley said. “There is help available for homeowners, businesses and nonprofit organizations that suffered damage from the storms. From the time the storms rolled through, to seeking today's disaster declaration from the SBA, we have been working with affected communities and connecting them with any resource we can.”</p><p>Etowah and DeKalb are the two primary counties listed in the SBA disaster declaration that was approved Thursday afternoon. The declaration also covers contiguous counties to those, including Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Jackson, Marshall and St. Clair. In Georgia, the contiguous counties are Chattooga, Dade and Walker.</p><p>The Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be open in Etowah County from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 at The Chamber of Gadsden/Etowah County, 1 Commerce Square, which is at the intersection of First and Walnut Streets.</p><p>The disaster center in DeKalb County will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 at the Kilpatrick Volunteer Fire Department, 101 County Road 370, Crossville.</p><p>Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations that qualify for assistance will have the following options from the SBA:</p><h3>Home Disaster Loans</h3>
<p>• Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars, appliances, etc., damaged or destroyed in the disaster.</p><p>Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition.</p><h3>Business Physical Disaster Loans</h3>
<p>• Loans of up to $2 million are available to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment.</p><p>Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, nonprofit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., also are eligible.</p><h3>Economic Injury Disaster Loans</h3>
<p>• If a small business or private, nonprofit organization has suffered economic injury, regardless of physical damage, and is located in an SBA-declared disaster area, it may be eligible for financial assistance of up to $2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration.</p><p>Those interested in applying for SBA low-interest rate loans can receive more information by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (or 800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing). Additional information, including SBA disaster loan fact sheets, can be found on the SBA's website at www.sba.gov.</p><p>Serve Alabama, the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Volunteer Service, continues to encourage storm survivors in need of assistance to call 211 (or 888-421-1266). Operators can give callers more information on recovery resources available in various communities.</p>